Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition
45950 Cheam Ave. V2P 1N6 Chilliwack, BC, Canada

We share our urban watersheds with fish and wildlife. In these photos, ambitious beavers have actively plugged a culvert with mud and sticks. This has restricted adult coho salmon from accessing Silverdale Creek Wetlands and migrating towards their natal channel to spawn, lay their eggs and complete their life cycle. Our friends at Stave Valley Salmonid Enhancement Society are clearing the culverts to allow the salmon to swim through during this key period of salmon spawning time. Thanks for doing this!

We also want to send a special thanks to Mitch, as he decided to donate his award prize of $100 back to us to use for restoration, stewardship and conservation! We are inspired by your generosity. Thanks! with Fred's Custom Tackle Fishing with Rod

A heartfelt thank you to all the anglers who participated in the derby, to Wally Sr., Fred and his team at Fred's Custom Tackle, Rod Fishing with Rod and the many people who volunteer with the Wally Hall Jr. Memorial Steelhead Fishing derby - a legacy on the river. When you participate or donate to this derby, your funds are donated to us, with our promise to keep the resources in the Chilliwack and Vedder River watersheds. No matter how we connect to the river, whether we fish, swim, walk, kayak, we all can be a part of this stewardship story. Thank you for your donations. https://fvwc.ca/wally-hall-jr/

Over the last 6 years we have recieved the donations from the registrants of the Memorial Wally Hall Jr. Steelhead Derby with a promise to use the resources to restore and enhance the Chilliwack and Vedder River watersheds for salmon and biodiversity. Our sincere thanks to each of you and congratulations the derby winners! You are part of the stewardship and river legacy!

In addition to planting, we have also kicked off our field season with monitoring. We monitor for fish and water quality a few times a year at a few of our project sites. It is always interesting to see if the sites are functioning as intended and what species are making themselves at home. Can you name the 3 fish species posted below? Hint: one is an invasive species in BC and is native in Eastern North America.

Friendly reminder about our upcoming, online, Annual General Meeting! We look forward to sharing with you the highlights of the year, introducing you to our team and directors and introducing you to our strategic objectives and upcoming priorities! Together, we are working to create vibrant, healthy watersheds. FVWC AGM Thursday Sept. 24, 2020 6:00PM-8:00PM To Register please email [email protected] To Vote, please become a member in good standing.

Happy Rivers Day Weekend. We are glad to be able to contribute towards enhancing riverine systems to improve the habitat values. We hope you too can take a moment to reflect on the values of rivers in your life, and contribute towards their wellbeing in a way that works for you.

We look forward to working with our communities towards watershed related goals! In the end, healthy watersheds promote social well-being and human health, economic prosperity and ecological health.

FVWC Chair, Matt Foy describes how chum salmon will seek out groundwater pockets in restored channels and use the area for spawning. In the process, as they move their bodies digging redds (nests) to lay their eggs, they "clean" and expose the gravels at the bottom of the channels. Thank you D.Moore and Sts'ailes First Nation for this photo.

At our Annual General Meeting we shared our most recent statistics! Did you know we planted the equivalent of 83 trees/shrubs a day - every single day of the year?! And, we restored created the equivalent of 1,579 NHL size hockey rinks?!

Thank you to all who attended our Annual General Meeting this evening! Welcome Directors! We look forward to your contributions.

This is Rachel, our Operations Manager! She has been actively working with the coalition for over ten years! She is a part of the leadership team. As a professional agrologist, she guides the field crew and designs specific riparian and bioengineering plans to help us achieve our project goals. Want to learn more about the projects she is working on? Why not join us this Thursday Sept. 24 6:00pm -8:00pm at our ONLINE Annual General Meeting?! To register, please email [email protected]

This is Bridgette, our Restoration Field Crew Technician and office assistant! She has been actively working with the coalition for a couple of years, helping us achieve project goals. Want to learn more about the projects she is working on? Why not join us this Thursday Sept. 24 6:00pm -8:00pm at our ONLINE Annual General Meeting?! To register, please email [email protected]

This is Donovan, one of our Restoration Field Technicians! He just recently joined the coalition team and is excited to help us achieve our project goals. Before that, he volunteered with us for years! Want to learn more about the projects he is working on? Why not join us this Thursday Sept. 24 6:00pm -8:00pm at our ONLINE Annual General Meeting?! To register, please email [email protected]

This is Winter, our Restoration Field Crew supervisor! She has been actively working with the coalition for years, helping us achieve our project goals. Want to learn more about the projects she is working on? Why not join us this Thursday Sept. 24 6:00pm -8:00pm at our ONLINE Annual General Meeting?! To register, please email [email protected]

Often lake outlet channels lose gravel over time, with little to no natural recruitment.This means, over time, salmon spawning potential may be reduced. Today, we are augmenting Lake Errock outlet channel (Sqwuakum Creek) to support spawning salmon habitat. What we anticipate seeing this fall, are returning chum salmon and an influx of aquatic invertebrates to feed our salmon and add diversity to the creek.

Restoration In-Progress: You may see excavators operating around Silverdale Creek Wetlands, (beside Highway #7 within the District of Mission). Rest assured! This is part of a Largescale Salmon Restoration Project meant to create and enhance wild pacific salmon habitat and improve floodplain ecology. This work has been guided by a working group represented by First Nations, local, provincial and federal governments and local charities and not-for profit organizations. Activit...ies include constructing salmon friendly wetlands and channels, and planting native trees and shrubs. In addition, the District of Mission will be upgrading their trail to make it more accessible and safe. To maximize safety, please obey all posted safety signs. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Together, we work towards healthy watersheds & healthy communities!

JOB OPPORTUNITY - FVWC Restoration Field Technician "It takes a team to make the dream!" We are hiring a "Restoration Field Technician" to join our coalition team. If you like being outside in all weather conditions, believe in healthy watersheds and healthy communities, have a "can-do mindset" and some experience in landscaping and/or field work - this may be the job for you! Click the link for more details about the job and application process. Thanks to all who take the time to apply. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. https://mailchi.mp/d955dafedbe5/jobopportunity2020

Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition restores and rehabilitates wetland habitat employing science and passion!

Here you can see on the left is the more turbid waters of the Fraser River flooding into the newly constructed Whonnock Creek channel. These spaces offer migrating salmon, like chinook, a place to feed and grow.